James Sullivan

James Sullivan is the Director of Cyber Research at RUSI, where his research focuses on the most pressing cyber and technology policy challenges of our time.

James founded and has grown a research group at RUSI that supports UK and international strategic responses to cyber-related challenges. His research considers a number of themes including: the role of national cyber strategies, the cyber threat landscape, cyber security and risk management, offensive cyber, cyber capacity building, cyber statecraft and diplomacy, and the threat from ransomware. James was a specialist adviser on 5G cyber security to the UK Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee.

At RUSI, James conducts research and analysis, hosts high-profile cross-sector cyber events, provides cyber education and awareness to wider society, and works with international partners to conduct research, share knowledge, ideas and best practice.

James joined RUSI from Deloitte’s Cyber Risk team where he provided analysis on the cyber threat landscape and advised clients on defensive measures and risk management strategies. He has worked with large organisations and SMEs to identify and mitigate cyber security risks, and has helped to advise on cyber transformation programmes.

Prior to this, James worked at the National Crime Agency as an Intelligence Analyst specialising in cyber-crime threats. He worked closely with UK government, private sector and international partners to identify and rationalise global cyber threats and trends, to provide security guidance to citizens and organisations, and authored strategic reports relating to specific malware strains, banking trojans, ransomware, and denial-of-service attacks.

James has contributed to a variety of publications and media outlets such as the FT, BBC and CNN and has provided private briefings on particular aspects of the cyber threat to high-level fora such as the G7.